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Sure, there are team components on many occasions, whether it be a best-ball tournament or a high school sports team, but at its core it is the player vs. the course.

And with that mindset comes individual motivations to push and drive a person to do their best, and namely to win.

For that reason, Chiles junior Bennett Baker, named the 2013 All-Big Bend Player of the Year in boys golf, and girls joint Player of the Year winners senior Kolby McWilliams of Maclay and sophomore Teresa Conroy of John Paul II earned their way to the top.

"I wanted to win Player of the Year, that was my goal," Baker said. "To do that I knew I had to win a couple of a tournaments."

Baker did more than that, shooting under par in seven of eight rounds to end the season in leading Chiles to a fifth-place state finish and district, region, city championship titles. He shot a blistering 65 at Killearn Country Club in September to claim the city title and kickstart an awe-inspiring run through the fall schedule.

"I started off the season kind of slow," said Baker, who credited hitting greens in regulations and making all his birdie putts as reason behind his success.

"I had a 40 in one of the first matches and then something clicked at Killearn when I shot 65. I just kept playing well the rest of the year. Shot 69 at Hilaman and then won districts and tied for first at regionals. Once I got on that hot streak, it was just keeping it going."

McWilliams, who has committed to Florida Southern, missed out on a city championship to Conroy, but responded with wins at districts and regionals and truly embraced taking on the Marauders' No. 1 role.

"At the end of my sophomore year, I decided I wanted to play college golf and I was going to work towards that goal and also try to go to a good school," McWilliams said.

"The fact that I was able to do that and sign just kind of made my year. I actually played exactly how I wanted to. I didn't play as well as I wanted to at City, but I won district and region so I was really happy about that."

McWilliams began playing golf in the sixth grade when approached by Maclay coach Mike McGrotha. And since her dad was a Florida Southern golf alum, it just seemed to be a natural fit.

But beyond learning the technical aspects of the sport, which she's still learning and is preparing to learn in college every day through practice, it was maturing mentally that she says has helped her the most.

"Golf is such a hard sport to learn, especially at such a young age," McWilliams said.

"You can't think about every shot you hit. One of the things I worked the hardest on this year was my attitude. I used to have such a bad attitude and you can't get upset if you hit a bad shot. That made this season a lot more fun."

Conroy shot a career-best 75 at Killearn in October to win the city title, which helped John Paul II to a narrow runner-up finish. She led the area in nine-hole scoring average and shot back-to-back 75's at the state tournament to finish 17th.

For the self-proclaimed perfectionist trying to do the hardest thing to the best of her ability, Conroy consistently put herself in contention with an improved short game built from hours of daily practice chipping and putting.

"It's about seeing your score go down every year, seeing yourself get a little better each month that's most rewarding," said Conroy, who credited tournament play throughout the year as a big reason for this season's success in pressure situations.

That is the same response given by all the respective Players of the Year. McWilliams leaves high school on a high note, while Conroy and Baker have chances to do it again. They'll return with a target on their back, much like it was for much of their past season, and they'll embrace their new goals and defense of their crowning achievement.

"I know there's a bunch of good players in the area and for many it was their senior year, so it was going to be my last chance to win it while playing against them," Baker said. "My goal was to win it and I knew it would be tough."

Chiles' Smith, Wakulla's Graham named Coaches of the Year

For nine years, Chiles' boys golf coach Ken Smith has worked to build a consistent program. Sometimes he has a good golfer, sometimes he has many. Many times, he just tries to get out of his kids' way.

Smith rode periods of discipline and laughter with a stable of solid boys golfers to his third consecutive All-Big Bend Coach of the Year honor and fourth overall.

"This was the most incredibly rewarding season I've had since I've been a coach," said Smith, whose Timberwolves team was comprised of four first-team selections and went 68-1 heading into the state tournament. "You just try to get them in the right places, to stay focused but have fun."

Wakulla's Tom Graham, also the school's softball coach was named the girls' Coach of the Year for his work with much-improved first-team player Kenzie Lee and the War Eagles steady competitiveness in each match they played despite their home course at Wildwood Golf Course being torn up and closed most of the year.

It is last year coaching after a 16-year career at the school.

"Whenever you're recognized by your peers, it just makes you feel really good," Graham said. "It makes you feel like you've really been doing something right and I really do appreciate the time I've put in at Wakulla and enjoyed all the kids that came through."